Clasp



0; I. HOPPEf CLASP, FILED JAN. 11.1922.

Dec. 19, 1922.

GHIO'I/WQ J @124 AQ QMAM/ Patented DecQlQ, 1922. I

grippinga "shoestring.

when the clasp is open.

. i l t ones; IJI-IOPPE, or new ssnnnns nnvv ironic CLASP.

Application filed January 11, i922. 'Serial 1 To.528, 3'?0.

To all whom it may concern, Be it known that I, ()LGAI. Horrn, a citizen of Russia, residing at Kew Gardens,-1=n

the county of Queens and State of New.

York, have invented certain new and use 'ful lniprovementsin Clasps, of Which-the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates. to clasps and has forone of its'prin'cipal objects toprovide -a clasp which, though capableof other uses, is particularly designed for receiving and Other 'objectsan'd advantages will appear. as the invention is hereinafter: disclosed. i v 1 Referring to the drawings which illustrate what I now consider preferred formsof the invention a :Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one "form of clasp applied to a laced shoe and concealing the ends of theoshoe-string.

Fig. 2 is a, section taken substantially-on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig; QRisa detail sectional View showing the relative position of certain of the parts F i g; 3' is a view similar to lbut showing a. slightly modified form of device.

Fig. 4 is a perspective'view illustrating a slightly modified form of device.

.liig. 5 is a seitiontaken substantially on the line 5-5 ofliig. at. I w

Fig. 6 is "a perspective view illustrating-a further modification. I i

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 7,7 otFig16. V

l ig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 .otFig'Z. 7

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 2 1t will be seen that the clasp there illustrated comprises a base member 10.,and an upper member 11 pivotally connected thereto at 12 for movewent from closed position shown in v1 andQ to open position shown in Fig. 2,

and vice versa. Means are provided for holding: said members in either-of these two positions. One "form oi such .means, as shown in the drawinsrs, comprises the c tension or portion 12 of the base member 12, and a coacting' :anp'le or flange portion iii Oi the upper member l1. Either or both of these members 18., ii are constructed of resi nt material and are so constructed and designed that when th members 10, 11 are in closed position- 1 or :2) they will be so held yieldingly; and. when the said members --10,,1l are in opeinposition (Fig. 2 theywill be so held yieldingly. By virtne of the inea'ns 13, Lil, when the upper member 11 iisyni'oved from either of the positions shown in Figs. 1 and to the other.

of said positions the resiliency of said'lp'ortions 13,-I4ew1ll oppose such movement during the first-part,thereof.but, as soon as the dead center is. passechthe memhersglOwand 11 will be snapped automatically to the: de-

sired open or closedposition.

lit 'it'be desired toernploy' theclasp for gripping a shoed'ace, it maybe applied as follows. With the parts i in] open position, thebase'i'nember 10 is placedq'on the shoe L5 in theposition shown' in Figs. Land-2.

The shoe-stringer lace 1 6 isthentied in the usual manner but over the base 10. The

ends of the shoe-,stringmay then be folded,

rolled or twisted into'a compact or condensed forni abovethe base member 10 andthe up per. member-ll snapped to the closed position (Fig. 1) in the manner above described. It will be'noted that, in the form of device shown inF'igs. 1, Qand 2 the upper ine-m- I bet is bulged or provided witha convex, portion 1 17; to receive and concealthe compacted ends offlthe= shoe-string..- The operation in removing the claspis-substantially the re verse of the above described operation.

If it is desired "to permit the endsofthe turally the same as the reference numerals indicate. The device shown in Fig 3 is applied and removed, ig enerally in the same way .as -that I shown in 'F 1g. 1' except that when-using the former (Fig. 3), the ends of the shoe-string bow are perniitted to pro ject from the clasp as shown. In either device, the clasp wl1en, closed, grips the tied shoe-string andprevents it froniundesired loosening}. slippinQy-or inadvertent untying.

In Figs. land 5 I have shown a'forin of a clasp especially adapted tobeused-in connection "with iuinps. Except for the {following 'diiierences the clasp shownyinFigs. d and 5 is the'sarne s-that shown in Figs. 1 and-2. The upper member ii" is shown in. theqgenefral form of a U.,,-al-though other the upper member 11 ceding figures are.

ornamental'formsmay be adopted, and is not bulged as the devices shown in the prein this form of clasp, is preferably provided with a plurality of struck-up portions or prongs 18 adapted to enter the shoe 15 to hold the clasp securely in its applied position. The shoe-string isshown in the form of a ribbon 16 folded to simulate a bow and held firmly between the shoe and upper member 11 when the clasp is applied to the shoe. The operation of'this form of clasp will now be understood in view of the fore- 'gomg description.

The device is susceptible to further modification and in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 I have illustrated a form of :clasp which possesses many desirable features. This clasp embodies generally a base member 10, an intermediate member 20 and an' upper member 11. The base member is shown provided with side Walls21, 21,'generally triangular in shape and to which is pivotally'connected at 12 The intermediate member 20 is'a leaf spring secured at one end to the base member 10by any suitable fastening means such as a rivet 22. The opposite end of the spring 20 is slightly curved at 23 and is designedto cooperate with the flange or angled portion 24: of the upper member 11 in. the manner hereinafter explained.- It willbe noted that the upper member 11 is shown provided with a bulged or convex, or dome-shaped portion 17 for a purpose which will presently appear. The side walls 21 are each provided with an opening 25. The clasp shown in Figs. 6 to. Sis constructed and designed to be employed and to operate substantially as follows.

The shoe islaced and the base member 10 of the wide open clasp is placed against the upper outer part of the shoe, as'indicated generally in Fig. 1. The two ends of the shoe string 16 are then passed through the openings 25, 25. The upper member 11 is then partially closed on the base member (see Fig. 6) and in this position the flange or angle 24 so engages the end 23 of the spring 20 as to press the latter down upon thecrossed ends of the shoe-string toprevent the latter from slipping with respect to each other and with respect to the base 10.

The ends of the shoe string 16 may then be doubledup (first tying them if. desired) and placed between the side walls21; The upper member 11 may then'be closed upon the base member 10 as shown in Figs. 7 and '8. In this position of parts the pressure of the spring 20 on the inner crossed portions of the shoe-strings, due to the coaction of the elements 23 and 24, and the clasping action of the upper member upon the doubled up or folded up ends of the string, prevent any slipping, loosening or inadvertent un- The base member 10*,

tying 'ofthe shoe-string. The ends of the shoe-string 16 are also 'efi ectively concealed under the dome 17 of the clasp. It will be noted that when the aarts are in closed nosi- 1 tion the spring 20 yieldingly holds the upper member 11 in the position shown in Fig. 8. When the a clasp is in wide open position (generally that indicatedin Fig. 2 if it be assumed that the parts 10, 1.1, 13- and 14., there shown, are the parts 20, 11, 23 and 24 shown in Figs. 6 to 8) the spring 20 yieldingly 'holds the upper .member 11 in such wide open position. And, as in the case of y the devices shown in Figs. 1 to 5, when the member 11 is moved from closed position to wi'deopen position, the first part of such movement is resisted by the spring 20 until the dead center (Fig.6) is passed when the uppenmember is automaticallysnapped by the'spring into desired position. v

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 have herein described the extends to such use.

1 What I claim is 1. A clasp for shoe strings comprising in combination, a base member, an intermediate member secured adjacent oneend to said base member whereby the ends of a shoe string may be entered between said general results outlined, and the invention 1 members, at least one of said members being resilient, a third member pivotally con.- nected tosa1d base member, and means actuated by closing movement of said third -member upon saidbase member for moving said two first named members relatively toward each other to grip the ends of the shoe string between said two first named members. i a V 2. A clasp for shoe strings comprising in combination,- a channel-shaped base memher, a. resilient member secured at one end to said base member and extending in the channel of the latter, the flanges of said base member having openings whereby the ends of a shoe string maybe inserted between said members, a third member pivotally connected with said base member and adapted toclose the open side thereof, and

means actuated by closing movement of said third member" for moving said two first namedv members relatively toward each other to grip the ends of the shoe string between said two first named members.

8. A clasp for shoe strings comprislng in combination, a base member, an outer member connected to said base member adsaid outer member being provided with an outwardly bulged convex portion to accom Inodate the knot of a shoe string when the clasp is closed, and manually releasable means for causing said clasp to grip a shoe string. o

i. A clasp for shoe strings comprising in combination, a base member, an intermediate member secured adjacent one end to i saidbase member whereby the ends of a shoe string may be entered between said mem bers, at least one of said members being-re;-

silient, a third member pivotally connected to said base member and provided with an,

outwardly bulged knot-receiving convex movement of said third member upons'aid base member for moving said two first named members relatively toward each other to grip the ends of the shoe string between said two first named members."

portion, and means actuated by closing In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

OLGA I. HoPPE. 

